Track of the Day: Public Service Broadcasting - "Gagarin"

Willgoose & Wrigglesworth sound like Dr. Seuss' law firm. In fact, they are not. These monikers belong to Public Service Broadcasting, a London-based duo who deftly mix high-powered, theatrical electronic pop with audio clips to create albums that sound like expansive monuments to the human mind. Their latest release, The Race for Space, focuses on the space race between the USA and Soviet Union from 1957-1972. Easily the highlight of the first third of the album, "Gagarin" is an epic tribute to the first man in space. Public Service Broadcasting's impeccable, slick production contrasts with the vintage audio clips making their songs feel at once contemporary and, well, educational. This contrast also lends, in the case of "Gagarin," a theatrical and almost operatic feel. It's something that's needed in music today with the slow descent into non-metaphorical ramblings about sexual organs or the bluster of "beef" being blown up into something worth listening to. On "Gagarin," you get the sense of actually impressive human achievement. Not just from the historical record but also from Public Service Broadcasting's transmission.